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Pita T, Feliciano JR, Leitão JH. Identification of Burkholderia cenocepacia non-coding RNAs expressed during Caenorhabditis elegans infection. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2023; 107:3653-3671. [PMID: 37097504 PMCID: PMC10175445 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-023-12530-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023]
Abstract
Small non-coding RNAs (sRNAs) are key regulators of post-transcriptional gene expression in bacteria. Despite the identification of hundreds of bacterial sRNAs, their roles on bacterial physiology and virulence remain largely unknown, as is the case of bacteria of the Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc). Bcc is a group of opportunistic pathogens with relatively large genomes that can cause lethal lung infections amongst cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. To characterise sRNAs expressed by Bcc bacteria when infecting a host, the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans was used as an infection model by the epidemic CF strain B. cenocepacia J2315. A total of 108 new and 31 previously described sRNAs with a predicted Rho independent terminator were identified, most of them located on chromosome 1. RIT11b, a sRNA downregulated under C. elegans infection conditions, was shown to directly affect B. cenocepacia virulence, biofilm formation, and swimming motility. RIT11b overexpression reduced the expression of the direct targets dusA and pyrC, involved in biofilm formation, epithelial cell adherence, and chronic infections in other organisms. The in vitro direct interaction of RIT11b with the dusA and pyrC messengers was demonstrated by electrophoretic mobility shift assays. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report on the functional characterization of a sRNA directly involved in B. cenocepacia virulence. KEY POINTS: • 139 sRNAs expressed by B. cenocepacia during C. elegans infection were identified • The sRNA RIT11b affects B. cenocepacia virulence, biofilm formation, and motility • RIT11b directly binds to and regulates dusA and pyrC mRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiago Pita
- Department of Bioengineering, iBB-Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, and Associate Laboratory i4HB-Institute for Health and Bioeconomy at Instituto Superior Técnico, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Joana R Feliciano
- Department of Bioengineering, iBB-Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, and Associate Laboratory i4HB-Institute for Health and Bioeconomy at Instituto Superior Técnico, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001, Lisbon, Portugal.
| | - Jorge H Leitão
- Department of Bioengineering, iBB-Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, and Associate Laboratory i4HB-Institute for Health and Bioeconomy at Instituto Superior Técnico, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001, Lisbon, Portugal.
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2
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Villalba M, Venturelli L, Arnal L, Masson C, Dietler G, Vela ME, Yantorno O, Kasas S. Effect of antibiotics on mechanical properties of Bordetella pertussis examined by atomic force microscopy. Micron 2022; 155:103229. [DOI: 10.1016/j.micron.2022.103229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 12/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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3
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Cieśluk M, Deptuła P, Piktel E, Fiedoruk K, Suprewicz Ł, Paprocka P, Kot P, Pogoda K, Bucki R. Physics Comes to the Aid of Medicine-Clinically-Relevant Microorganisms through the Eyes of Atomic Force Microscope. Pathogens 2020; 9:pathogens9110969. [PMID: 33233696 PMCID: PMC7699805 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9110969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Revised: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the hope that was raised with the implementation of antibiotics to the treatment of infections in medical practice, the initial enthusiasm has substantially faded due to increasing drug resistance in pathogenic microorganisms. Therefore, there is a need for novel analytical and diagnostic methods in order to extend our knowledge regarding the mode of action of the conventional and novel antimicrobial agents from a perspective of single microbial cells as well as their communities growing in infected sites, i.e., biofilms. In recent years, atomic force microscopy (AFM) has been mostly used to study different aspects of the pathophysiology of noninfectious conditions with attempts to characterize morphological and rheological properties of tissues, individual mammalian cells as well as their organelles and extracellular matrix, and cells’ mechanical changes upon exposure to different stimuli. At the same time, an ever-growing number of studies have demonstrated AFM as a valuable approach in studying microorganisms in regard to changes in their morphology and nanomechanical properties, e.g., stiffness in response to antimicrobial treatment or interaction with a substrate as well as the mechanisms behind their virulence. This review summarizes recent developments and the authors’ point of view on AFM-based evaluation of microorganisms’ response to applied antimicrobial treatment within a group of selected bacteria, fungi, and viruses. The AFM potential in development of modern diagnostic and therapeutic methods for combating of infections caused by drug-resistant bacterial strains is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mateusz Cieśluk
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Nanobiomedical Engineering, Medical University of Bialystok, PL-15222 Bialystok, Poland; (M.C.); (P.D.); (E.P.); (K.F.); (Ł.S.)
| | - Piotr Deptuła
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Nanobiomedical Engineering, Medical University of Bialystok, PL-15222 Bialystok, Poland; (M.C.); (P.D.); (E.P.); (K.F.); (Ł.S.)
| | - Ewelina Piktel
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Nanobiomedical Engineering, Medical University of Bialystok, PL-15222 Bialystok, Poland; (M.C.); (P.D.); (E.P.); (K.F.); (Ł.S.)
| | - Krzysztof Fiedoruk
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Nanobiomedical Engineering, Medical University of Bialystok, PL-15222 Bialystok, Poland; (M.C.); (P.D.); (E.P.); (K.F.); (Ł.S.)
| | - Łukasz Suprewicz
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Nanobiomedical Engineering, Medical University of Bialystok, PL-15222 Bialystok, Poland; (M.C.); (P.D.); (E.P.); (K.F.); (Ł.S.)
| | - Paulina Paprocka
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Medical Science, Collegium Medicum, Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce, PL-25317 Kielce, Poland; (P.P.); (P.K.)
| | - Patrycja Kot
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Medical Science, Collegium Medicum, Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce, PL-25317 Kielce, Poland; (P.P.); (P.K.)
| | - Katarzyna Pogoda
- Institute of Nuclear Physics Polish Academy of Sciences, PL-31342 Krakow, Poland;
| | - Robert Bucki
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Nanobiomedical Engineering, Medical University of Bialystok, PL-15222 Bialystok, Poland; (M.C.); (P.D.); (E.P.); (K.F.); (Ł.S.)
- Correspondence:
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4
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Hassan AA, Dos Santos SC, Cooper VS, Sá-Correia I. Comparative Evolutionary Patterns of Burkholderia cenocepacia and B. multivorans During Chronic Co-infection of a Cystic Fibrosis Patient Lung. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:574626. [PMID: 33101250 PMCID: PMC7545829 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.574626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
During chronic respiratory infections of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, bacteria adaptively evolve in response to the nutritional and immune environment as well as influence other infecting microbes. The present study was designed to gain insights into the genetic mechanisms underlying adaptation and diversification by the two most prevalent pathogenic species of the Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc), B. cenocepacia and B. multivorans. Herein, we study the evolution of both of these species during coinfection of a CF patient for 4.4 years using genome sequences of 9 B. multivorans and 11 B. cenocepacia. This co-infection spanned at least 3 years following initial infection by B. multivorans and ultimately ended in the patient's death by cepacia syndrome. Both species acquired several mutations with accumulation rates of 2.08 (B. cenocepacia) and 2.27 (B. multivorans) SNPs/year. Many of the mutated genes are associated with oxidative stress response, transition metal metabolism, defense mechanisms against antibiotics, and other metabolic alterations consistent with the idea that positive selection might be driven by the action of the host immune system, antibiotic therapy and low oxygen and iron concentrations. Two orthologous genes shared by B. cenocepacia and B. multivorans were found to be under strong selection and accumulated mutations associated with lineage diversification. One gene encodes a nucleotide sugar dehydratase involved in lipopolysaccharide O-antigen (OAg) biosynthesis (wbiI). The other gene encodes a putative two-component regulatory sensor kinase protein required to sense and adapt to oxidative- and heavy metal- inducing stresses. This study contributes to understanding of shared and species-specific evolutionary patterns of B. cenocepacia and B. multivorans evolving in the same CF lung environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Amir Hassan
- iBB - Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.,Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Sandra C Dos Santos
- Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Vaughn S Cooper
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Isabel Sá-Correia
- iBB - Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.,Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
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5
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Tavares M, Kozak M, Balola A, Coutinho CP, Godinho CP, Hassan AA, Cooper VS, Sá-Correia I. Adaptation and Survival of Burkholderia cepacia and B. contaminans During Long-Term Incubation in Saline Solutions Containing Benzalkonium Chloride. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:630. [PMID: 32714902 PMCID: PMC7344210 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.00630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) is a group of opportunistic pathogenic bacteria with a remarkable metabolic capacity and broad genotypic/phenotypic plasticity, allowing their adaptation to hostile conditions, including nutrient depleted solutions containing antimicrobial agents. Bcc bacteria are feared contaminants in pharmaceutical industries and cause nosocomial outbreaks, posing health threats to immunocompromised individuals and cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. In this study, the adaptation and survival of B. cepacia and B. contaminans isolates was investigated after long-term incubation in nutrient depleted saline solutions supplemented with increasing concentrations of the biocidal preservative benzalkonium chloride (BZK), recreating the storage conditions of pharmaceutical products. These epidemiologically related isolates were recovered from intrinsically contaminated saline solutions for nasal application and from two CF patients. Long-term incubation in saline solutions containing BZK led to the development of bacterial sub-populations that survived for at least 16 months, despite an initial 2-3 log decrease in viability, displaying a progressive dose-dependent decrease of colony and cell size, including the appearance of small colony variants (SCVs). Bacterial colonies lost pigmentation, changed the morphotype from rough to smooth and produced more spherical cells during extended incubation with BZK. The development of macroscopically visible cellular aggregates, rich in polysaccharide and harboring viable cells in their interior was triggered by BZK. The existence of a metabolic pathway for BZK degradation was confirmed through genome analysis. This study reveals mechanisms underlying the prevalence of Bcc bacteria as contaminants of pharmaceutical products containing BZK, which often lead to false-negative results during quality control and routine testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Tavares
- iBB - Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.,Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Mariya Kozak
- iBB - Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.,Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Alexandra Balola
- iBB - Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.,Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Carla P Coutinho
- iBB - Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Cláudia P Godinho
- iBB - Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - A Amir Hassan
- iBB - Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.,Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Vaughn S Cooper
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Isabel Sá-Correia
- iBB - Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.,Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
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Carapeto AP, Vitorino MV, Santos JD, Ramalho SS, Robalo T, Rodrigues MS, Farinha CM. Mechanical Properties of Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells Expressing Wt- and Mutant CFTR. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21082916. [PMID: 32326361 PMCID: PMC7216210 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21082916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2020] [Revised: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is caused by mutations in the gene encoding the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). A single recessive mutation, the deletion of phenylalanine 508 (F508del), causes severe CF and resides on 70% of mutant chromosomes. Disorganization of the actin cytoskeleton has been previously reported in relation to the CF phenotype. In this work, we aimed to understand this alteration by means of Atomic Force Microscopy and Force Feedback Microscopy investigation of mechanical properties of cystic fibrosis bronchial epithelial (CFBE) cells stably transduced with either wild type (wt-) or F508del-CFTR. We show here that the expression of mutant CFTR causes a decrease in the cell’s apparent Young modulus as compared to the expression of the wt protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana P. Carapeto
- BioISI – Instituto de Biosistemas e Ciências Integrativas, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.P.C.); (M.V.V.); (J.D.S.); (S.S.R.); (T.R.)
- Departamento de Física, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Miguel V. Vitorino
- BioISI – Instituto de Biosistemas e Ciências Integrativas, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.P.C.); (M.V.V.); (J.D.S.); (S.S.R.); (T.R.)
- Departamento de Física, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - João D. Santos
- BioISI – Instituto de Biosistemas e Ciências Integrativas, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.P.C.); (M.V.V.); (J.D.S.); (S.S.R.); (T.R.)
- Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Sofia S. Ramalho
- BioISI – Instituto de Biosistemas e Ciências Integrativas, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.P.C.); (M.V.V.); (J.D.S.); (S.S.R.); (T.R.)
- Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Tiago Robalo
- BioISI – Instituto de Biosistemas e Ciências Integrativas, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.P.C.); (M.V.V.); (J.D.S.); (S.S.R.); (T.R.)
- Departamento de Física, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Mário S. Rodrigues
- BioISI – Instituto de Biosistemas e Ciências Integrativas, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.P.C.); (M.V.V.); (J.D.S.); (S.S.R.); (T.R.)
- Departamento de Física, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
- Correspondence: (M.S.R.); (C.M.F.)
| | - Carlos M. Farinha
- BioISI – Instituto de Biosistemas e Ciências Integrativas, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.P.C.); (M.V.V.); (J.D.S.); (S.S.R.); (T.R.)
- Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
- Correspondence: (M.S.R.); (C.M.F.)
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Burkholderia cepacia Complex Bacteria: a Feared Contamination Risk in Water-Based Pharmaceutical Products. Clin Microbiol Rev 2020; 33:33/3/e00139-19. [PMID: 32295766 DOI: 10.1128/cmr.00139-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Burkholderia cepacia (formerly Pseudomonas cepacia) was once thought to be a single bacterial species but has expanded to the Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc), comprising 24 closely related opportunistic pathogenic species. These bacteria have a widespread environmental distribution, an extraordinary metabolic versatility, a complex genome with three chromosomes, and a high capacity for rapid mutation and adaptation. Additionally, they present an inherent resistance to antibiotics and antiseptics, as well as the abilities to survive under nutrient-limited conditions and to metabolize the organic matter present in oligotrophic aquatic environments, even using certain antimicrobials as carbon sources. These traits constitute the reason that Bcc bacteria are considered feared contaminants of aqueous pharmaceutical and personal care products and the frequent reason behind nonsterile product recalls. Contamination with Bcc has caused numerous nosocomial outbreaks in health care facilities, presenting a health threat, particularly for patients with cystic fibrosis and chronic granulomatous disease and for immunocompromised individuals. This review addresses the role of Bcc bacteria as a potential public health problem, the mechanisms behind their success as contaminants of pharmaceutical products, particularly in the presence of biocides, the difficulties encountered in their detection, and the preventive measures applied during manufacturing processes to control contamination with these objectionable microorganisms. A summary of Bcc-related outbreaks in different clinical settings, due to contamination of diverse types of pharmaceutical products, is provided.
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